Through discussions and interviews with writers, artists and health professionals, author friends James McKenzie Watson and Ashley Kalagian Blunt explore the big questions: how do books get written? How do people navigate life with chronic illness? And just what are you reading?
Ashley Kalagian Blunt is the author of Dark Mode, an internationally published psychological thriller. Her earlier books are How to Be Australian, a memoir, and My Name Is Revenge, collected fiction and essays. Her writing appears in the Sydney Morning Herald, Overland, Griffith Review, Sydney Review of Books, and more. Ashley is an enthusiastic teacher of writing and creativity. Originally from Canada, she has lived and worked in South Korea, Peru and Mexico. Find her on Twitter and Instagram or visit her website.
James McKenzie Watson is the author of Denizen, which won the 2021 Penguin Literary Prize and was shortlisted in 2023 Ned Kelly Awards for Best Debut. His writing has appeared in The Guardian, Meanjin, Kill Your Darlings and the Newtown Review of Books. He has appeared at events including the Sydney Writers Festival, Newcastle Writers Festival and BAD Crime Sydney. He works as a nurse. Find him on Twitter and Instagram or visit his website.
Apr 28, 2026
In March, Ashley launched her new thriller 'Like, Follow, Die.' In episode 129, hear a live recording of the very special Sydney launch event at Gleebooks, Glebe, where James interviewed Ashley and superstar actor and audiobook narrator Claudia Karvan.
Claudia Karvan is one of Australia’s most respected and acclaimed film and television actors. She co-created, produced, and starred in the Stan series Bump, earning AACTA and Silver Logie nominations for her performance, and the 2026 AACTA Award for Best Narrative Comedy Series. Claudia also appeared in Disney+’s The Clearing. Earlier, she co-created and produced Doctor Doctor for Nine Network and co-created, produced and starred in the Foxtel series Spirited and Love My Way, winning two Silver Logies and two AFI Awards for the latter. In 2023, she was honoured with an Order of Australia for her service to the industry.
Books & authors discussed in this episode:
- Clown World: Four Years Inside Andrew Tate's Manosphere by Matt Shea and Jamie Tahsin
- Alain de Botton
Find Like, Follow, Die through Booktopia or from your local bookshop or library, or listen to the audiobook only from Audible, narrated by Claudia Karvan, Ryan Corr and Laurence Boxhall.
Upcoming events
- Sydney – join Ashley in conversation at Avalon Library, Wednesday 6 May, 5.45pm
- Sydney – join Ashley for her Memoir Writing workshop as part of Writer's Toolbox Day at Kirrawee Library, Saturday 9 May
- Online – Ashley is teaching Online: Crime Writing for Faber Academy starting 12 May
- Orange, NSW – join Ashley for her first-ever Orange author talk on Thursday 14 May, 5.30pm
- Bathurst, NSW – join Ashley for her first-ever Bathurst author talk on Friday 15 May, 15 May
- Sydney – join Ashley, Pip Drysdale, Hayley Scrivenor and Rachael Johns for Booked for Lunch, a special She Journeys celebration of books and writing, Saturday 16 May, 9am-3pm
- Sydney – join Ashley at the BAD Sydney Crime Book Club to discuss the spoilers and behind-the-scenes of Like, Follow, Die, Wednesday 27 May, 12.30pm
- Darwin – join Ashley for her first-ever Darwin event, part of NT Writers Festival, Sunday 31 May, 10.15am
- Darwin – join Ashley in conversation for a Book Besties Darwin special event, Monday 1 June, 6pm
- Sydney – join James for the launch of Touch Grass by Mary Colussi, Tuesday 2 June, 6.30 pm
- Sydney – join Ashley for a **free** workshop, Connecting with Your Creative Practice, Friday 19 June, 10am-2pm
- Adelaide – Ashley is teaching Crafting Narrative Drive for Writers SA, Saturday 27 June 10.30am
- Winter Writing Retreat – join Ashley for a multi-day writing retreat from Writers at the Woolshed, 12-17 July in the Southern Highlands
- Geelong – join Ashley for her first-ever Geelong event with Dymocks Books in Bars, Wednesday 22 July, 6.30pm
Learn more about Ashley's thrillers, Dark Mode, Cold Truth, and Like, Follow, Die and get your copies from your local bookshop or library.
Learn more about James's award-winning novel Denizen and get your copy from your local bookshop or library.
Get in touch!